John F. Williams

As printed in 1881

JOHN F. WILLIAMS, deceased. He was the progenitor of the Williams families in this section. He was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., and was brought up to farm life. When about of mature age, he was united in wedlock with one Elizabeth Flora; they moved from their native place to Belmont Co., Ohio, at a date which can not be accurately ascertained, but about the year 1806 they located near Steubenville, and enjoyed their new home about five years, when Mrs. Williams was taken from the family by death. leaving five children, viz., Frederick. Catharine, Isaac, Susan and Elizabeth. At this time he had a brother-in-law living in Stark Co., and, after disposing of his effects, he repaired to Stark Co. with his five children, and leaving them in charge of his relative, he returned to his native place in Pennsylvania, and there he married Elizabeth Gartie, and, having spent about a year on his visit, he returned with his young bride to where his children were, arriving in 1818. During his unsettled condition and his removals to and from Ohio, he escaped the draft, which would, in all probability, have drawn him into the war of 1812. He was in very poor financial circumstances, and was unable to enter the amount of land specified by law, but bought 60 acres of his brother-in-law, which he improved, and, by his unceasing industry and the enhancement in value of the property, he got to be in easy circumstances. In the course of time there were born to him, in Stark Co., by his second marriage, five children, viz., Thomas, George, Joseph, Mary A. and Jacob, three of whom are now aged and respected citizens of this county. An earnest feeling was pervading in the family as to finding a more suitable agricultural location, where farms might be secured for his growing family. Thus prompted, one of his elder sons. Isaac, made a tour of inspection, and purchased, in 1828, 160 acres near Bucyrus, in Holmes Township. He returned with a description of this locality, which induced Mr. Williams to come here with his family. They started in the spring of 1829, with a two-horse team and wagon, driving a few cattle along. When they arrived at Spring Mills. Richland Co., the family stopped there and Mr. Williams came on here and bought 80 acres in Liberty Township, where his son Jacob now resides. He then went back to Spring Mills and moved the family there. During his absence the oldest boy. Thomas, helped in the harvest at Spring Mills, reaping with a hand sickle. When they came to GaUon, they found the country so soft and impassable that it was necessary to hire a team to hitch on and help them through here. Elizabeth, the youngest child of his first wife, was the only one of hers who came at that time. She died shortly after their settlement here. But Isaac and his wife soon followed, to the location he had purchased when out here in 1828. Susan married Benjamin Gants and remained in Stark Co., where she lives to this day. Catharine married Leonard Slowin and moved to Wood Co., and is still living. Frederick came here and bought considerable land in Holmes Township, and built a saw-mill, which was not a success on account of want of water sufficient to run at all seasons, and when a dam was built, at a heavy expense, failed to serve the purpose, continually breaking because of quicksand surroundings. Exhausting much of his means, and becoming discouraged, he started for California with the first tide of emigration to that State, leaving here his wife and four children, with the hope of returning in the early future with a repleted fortune; but he never returned, and many years since died. In Decembei-, 1836, death again visited the family of Mr. Williams, this time summoning the loving wife and devoted mother. He married a third wife — Elizabeth Fox. widow of Michael Fox, late of Seneca Co. She had two children by Mr. Fox, but left no heirs by Mr. Williams. The children by his second wife we will make mention of elsewhere, except George, who will come in this connection. He lived at home until about 18 years old. when he went to sail on the lakes with Capt. Cobb. More than twenty years of his life were spent on the lakes; ten years of that time he was Captain of a steamer plying between Buffalo, N. Y., and Chicago, Ill., and intermediate points. He died in Buffalo. N. Y.. (his home for years), in 1866. Mary Ann married Josiah Jackson; they moved to Iowa, where she died. Thomas, Joseph and Jacob are still here, and spoken of, with their families, in the following sketches. Mr. Williams was living on the old homestead with his son Jacob, when his final dissolution came. His widow went back to her children by Mr. Fox.

As printed in History of Crawford County and Ohio : containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ... a history of Crawford County ... biographical sketches, portraits (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.